Last night, I ordered Thai take-out before I left work, and picked it up on the way home.

Any regular readers know how often we've talked about how much more expensive it is to eat out than cook your own. And we'd generally recommend avoiding a situation in which you're eating out by default because you have no groceries or tools at home. But we'd never suggest foregoing restaurant food altogether, if you can afford it and it's worth it to you.

Take-out's a great way to have your restaurant food and eat it, too. And only it, without high-priced drinks or appetizers or dessert, without a 15% gratuity.

Again, don't do it by default, but keep it in mind as a cheaper alternative to a sit-down restaurant meal.